THE Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has taken possession of Walter Fletcher Beach on the Montego Bay Hip Strip in St James as of September 7.

The UDC, in a release Thursday, said that the decision comes after the operators indicated “their inability to continue conducting business on the property”, the former home of AquaSol Beach Park, ahead of the October 10 original expiry date of the consent agreement between the UDC and the operators.

The UDC said, in taking possession of the property, it would be temporarily closing it to conduct an assessment determining whether limited access by the public can be allowed, noting that the “overriding factor will be the safety of patrons”.

The UDC, as part of the redevelopment for the greater Montego Bay area, has earmarked the waterfront, which it holds, as central to the sustainability of the life of the city.

Already the corporation has sought and received funding through the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, for the first phase of groyne rehabilitation.

The repair of the groynes is critical to protection of the shoreline and facilitating the redevelopment of the three beaches, Closed Harbour (Dump Up), Walter Fletcher and Gun Point.

The Walter Fletcher Beach is one of three beaches created by the UDC in the 1970s for public use.

The corporation said on Thursday that its intention is for the Walter Fletcher Beach to continue to operate as a public beach, in keeping with acceptable standards of public comfort and safety.